This realization came long before he was a rapper. A rough childhood in the crime-ridden Powderhorn neighborhood of south Minneapolis turned the guy born Jacob Anderson into someone who doesn't expect the world — let alone the music press — to nurture him.

He asserts as much on the confessional "Myself" off his 2011 full-length debut, King Gampo. In a markedly pristine singing voice, Prof lays out the mantra: "I believe in nothing/I believe in myself."

He does, however, believe in punctuality. On a snow-covered evening in late January, City Pages meets a camouflage parka-clad Anderson deep in residential Minneapolis at the Rail Station Bar & Grill on Minnehaha Avenue. It's trivia night, so the building's packed, and after sitting a minute, we decide to depart for a quieter spot. He gets behind the wheel of a silver Audi, which he later says belongs to "his great-great-great-grandpa."

A mile north, we arrive at Merlins Rest, the neighborhood bar on East Lake Street in Longfellow. This working-class joint proves comfortable for the 2002 graduate of South High. So comfy, in fact, that he robbed the bar in the video for "Fire," off 2009's Recession Music.

It's the fourth Monday of the month, so it's "Shanty Pub Singing" night, and a crowd assembled in the dining area belts out an old spiritual, "The Key to the Kingdom," which repeats the line, "The world can't do me no harm."

"This is fucking crazy," Prof says with obvious delight. When he grins, his thin Clark Gable mustache gets framed by two deep dimples. "I didn't know white people got together and sang this type of shit." (Although his blues-sampling song "Whiskey" is definitely this type of shit.)

He orders a platter of sausages and a pint of Guinness.

"Slug says it all the time, he loves rap music that comes from the struggle, and he's like, 'Your music is struggle music,' even if it's like 'Moron,'" he says, referencing the revelatory cut that closes out Prof's latest mixtape, Kaiser Von Powderhorn 3, which was released in the fall. It melds a synth-blasting beat from Doomtree producer Lazerbeak's Lava Bangers stash with the rubber-faced rapper calling out his people — many by name — to put their "whole ass" into dancing along. The video was filmed at the St. Louis Park Roller Garden, and is nothing short of a wild rumpus.

"That's a celebration," Prof continues. "Part of people forgetting where the hurt comes from is wanting to party. I'm still kinda battling with my message and what I want to say to people. I still don't really feel like it's my responsibility yet."

Prof's message can be a touchy subject. There's an assumption by a lot of casual observers that Prof's voice doesn't fit within the Twin Cities' conscious-minded hip-hop diet. But aside from a few Rhymesayers artists and members of the Doomtree collective, there's not another local rapper who can sell out First Avenue's mainroom.

Remember how he doesn't need this interview? Our Merlins Rest meet-up occurs two days before tickets for Prof's two mainroom shows — happening this weekend — go on sale. But he and his team are already all but certain that they will sell out. They were right: The 18-plus show filled up within 24 hours and the all-ages show was sold out by the end of February.

Yet Prof has received only a sliver of the press attention afforded most other locals who can command a 1,500-capacity room two nights in a row.

"It pisses me off," he admits. "We've tried just to make it to a level where we can just be bigger than any of the local press and say, 'Fuck you'; we basically already can. We can go without a write-up and sell out First Avenue without a fuckin' question.... I have my people coming to my shows. A write-up doesn't necessarily bring people to your show."

One recent write-up sums up much of the resistance to Prof. TC Daily Planet critic Dwight Hobbes characterized King Gampo as "asinine, narcissistic self-indulgence run completely riot, without a shred of redeeming artistry." While we'd agree that Prof joins a long line of braggadocious voices to hold the mic, it sure seems some locals are awfully pissed off by artistry that was carefully calibrated to piss them off.

"I've always been the class clown," he says. "I'd put on all these different personalities and stuff and these teachers would have no clue what to do with me." But turning into a comedic, dirty-mouthed rap persona in his late teens meant answering to another life-long teacher, his mother Colleen, who he calls the hardest-working person he's ever met. "She's like, 'Yeah, I understand. I saw a Robin Williams special, and he was saying some really nasty things — but I was laughing.'"

For those who can't stomach Robin Williams, the tawdry side of Prof could be a problem. A few of his songs feature salacious come-ons, such as the Slug duet "Swimming" ("Grabbin' on the lactose while I do the backstroke") that are easily pulled out by point-proving prudes. And the "get drunk, break shit" will of "Me Boi" may put off others, even though Prof includes a disclaimer at the end.

First time I saw Prof was Soundset 2012. I had never heard him before, easily my favorite performance that year. Gave out King Gampo for FREE and even signed my copy. That summer was the best summer of my life. We sub-bumped that shit in the Civic at least 100 times. I can can see it now. Drivin around Calhoun, windows down, blasting "Gampo". The beats, the lyrics, they had an impact on me in a way not many artists do. Many people focus on the politics of music, but that's not what music is about. King Gampo is the soundtrack to my teenage years. I wish I could high five this man for making this album. It's fucking gold. Thank you Prof for putting your heart on track and giving us these beats. You the man.

I really don't care if he grew up shitting in gold plated diapers or used pull ups from a dumpster behind Denny's. I care about the party the guy throws every time he gets on stage. His stage performance is one of the best I've seen from any artist from any genre of music. The music is infectious and the party is just getting started.

First off, I didn't meet Prof until he and I were busting our asses trying to get a radio station revamped at our college so I don't know about any of this 'growing up privileged' nonsense. What I do know is the dude has more talent as an artist in his pinky toe than most of you haters have in making arguments about why he sucks. I'm sorry, who is the one selling out shows in the mainroom??

You all act as if you were so close to witness the environment he grew up in, then doesn't that make you the same spoiled lil rich kid you claim him to be?Regardless, rappers don't get cred by growing up poor, they get large by being in charge of the hustle. Prof has it figured out. He works hard, has fun and wouldn't you know it making a living the best way he can. Better than your shitty jobs at kinkos.Much love Prof, keep it going LOUDER!

They are acting like Prof is out here on some hardcore gangster shit. Every rapper at least embellishes a little bit. Im sure he only has like 15 houses and 20 mortgages. Its not like the attraction to Prof is his thugness. You have to be a really good liar to portray the feelings he does in his music the way he does.

when i knew jake anderson as a teenager he lived in linden hills in basically a mansion. i agree, he seemed kind of spoiled. i don't know why white rappers always have to lie and say they grew up poor. why not be honest?

Every word out of Jacob Anderson's mouth is a lie. He grew up a privileged kid and everyone who grew up with him knows it. He barely even knew the kid named Gampo. He will never in his life tell the truth because his ego comes first above everything.

The first time I saw Prof perform he stole my heart, hes too good as a performer. He'll make you want to dance, laugh and scream, getcha wet... all that! Ive gotten to see him 4 times in Omaha. His music is where its at. Any of my friends exposed to Prof were fast fans, if not fans already. We have some pretty serious drunk- who can sing the loudest and/or who knows knows the most Prof lyrics yell offs. But I love reading articles about him and seeing interviews, Prof is quite the character.

@bigGeorge84 if by mansion you mean: "a triplex I stayed at half the time when my mother had custody," then yep. It was my stepdads place. Im not trying to glorify poverty, or get any street cred. Just answering questions truthfully. Whats your name? Would I know you?

@TonyLindstrom1 It wasnt a bowl cut, it was parted down the middle, yo. Like I said, not trying to glorify poverty, or get any street cred. Just answering questions people ask me. You might have seen me out looking spoiled somewhere, but obviously you never followed me home.

@whatupthough "my parents both drive audis?!?" 1st off one is dead, and the other is 60 still working as a school teacher and driving a used toyota. Where do you people pull this out of a hat from? haha... Im only on these comments to clear shit up. If you went to my church, you would know my dad burned my house down and is now currently dead. Thanks tho boo.